A Quick Guide to Understand Terminated Merchant File or TMF

Terminated Merchant File – Most merchants do not know about the Terminated Merchant File until they have been added to one. Once you are added to the TMF, the merchant service providers refuse your request to open a new merchantaccount. When the merchant does not follow the norms of business properly, owns a high-risk business and/or has a great number of chargeback in previous processing, the MasterCard can put the merchant in the Terminated Merchant File.

What is MATCH list And Its Pros & Cons?

Created and maintained by MasterCard, the MATCH list is the information of the comparatively high-risk merchants. Other networks such as Visa and American Express can also access this list or data. The MATCH stands for Member Alert To Control High-Risk.
This list has its benefits and loss that can affect a merchant and the business.

Pros of MATCH List:

The main advantage is for the Acquiring bank.

The bank can choose not to deal with the merchant if it’sa MATCH List merchant.

Furthermore, it helps banks to decide whether the merchant should get the credit card processing or not, depending on their previous records.

Cons of MATCH List:

The list cannot be 100% accurate as there is always the possibility of data error.

Once added to the MATCH List, the merchant has to face consequences for the rest of his business life.

Previously, it was known by the name TMF (Terminated Merchant File). But then the rules were updated and became more comprehensive. That leads to a change in the name too.

Terminated Merchant File/ MATCH List

The Terminated Merchant File is a file or a list, in which a merchant with bad business records is put under. This list has other names as well:

TMF – Terminated Merchant File

MATCH – Member Alert To Control High-Risk

The merchant can use preventive measures to avoid getting into the Terminated Merchant File or Member Alert To Control High-Risk. You can contact Merchant Stronghold for details related to TMF or MATCH. We also have a 24/7 open toll-free number +1(888) 622-6875 for the users.

Furthermore, in this article, we will discuss the various aspects of the MATCH or TMF.

MATCH List Reason Code

Here is the list of the conditions that are used to penalize the Merchants that lead to MATCH List:

MATCH List Reason Code

Title

Explanation

01

Account Data Compromise

The Merchant steal the customer’s information and sold it to another merchant

02

Common Point of Purchase

Unauthorized access of customer’s card information

03

Laundering

A transaction is processed by the merchant that does not involve a genuine cardholder

04

Excessive Chargebacks

The Merchant has exceeded the minimum number of chargeback

05

Excessive Fraud

The fraud-to-sales merchant threshold is exceeded

07

Fraud Conviction

The merchant is been convicted of a business fraud

08

MasterCard Questionable Merchant Audit Program

The MasterCard has given the “Questionable Merchant” label to a Merchant

09

Bankruptcy, Liquidation, Insolvency

The merchant either is unable or will likely become unable to meet its financial obligations

10

Violation of Standards

The Card Network rules are violated

11

Merchant Collusion

The merchant participated in fraudulent collusive activities

12

PCI-DSS Non-compliance

The merchant did not comply with the Payment Card Industry (PCI) Data Security Standard requirements